U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton[2]’s hydropower bill got near unanimous support in the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday.

WASHINGTON — Rep. Scott Tipton’s twice-attempted bill to bring hydropower development to rural areas across the country got almost unanimous support in the full House Wednesday.

In a 416-7 vote, the House approved the measure that will allow small hydropower development projects within existing man-made Bureau of Reclamation conduits — pipelines, ditches and canals. The proposal eliminates duplicative environmental analysis and streamlines the regulatory process to make that development easier.

The Interior Department sayd there are 373 canal sites nationwide — 28 in Colorado — that could be developed for hydropower purposes.

Last Congress, Tipton received 265-154 votes on the same bill, but the full Senate ran out of time to take it up. Tipton amended his proposal this time to address some concerns from Democrats in the last Congress.

The high votes on Wednesday may mean it has a more auspicious chance of becoming law. Also a companion measure is being introduced in the Senate by Wyoming Republican Sen. John Barrasso.

All seven members of Colorado’s House delegation voted for Tipon’s measure Wednesday.

“Every day, water flows thousands of miles through canals, pipes and ditches across the country, and every day we miss valuable opportunities to utilize this resource’s full potential,” said Rep. Jim Costa, a California Democrat and co-sponor of the bill, in a statement.

“My hope is that this amendment, which is broadly supported by the diverse range of groups invested in the bill who are committed to ensuring continued environmental protection, will assuage any reservations about this effort to promote clean reneable energy,” Tipton said.